From the 1970s to the early 2000s, #Discula destructiva caused one of the most destructive forest tree epidemics of the modern era. I. Shade Niece et al. present the telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of D. destructiva and transcriptome profiling: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-25-0301-R

Foot rot of sweet potato caused by #Diaporthe destruens has recently caused severe damage in Japan. Shuichi Hashimoto et al. generated a green fluorescent protein-expressing strain in D. destruens for observing infection processes in sweet potato tissues: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0174-R

Pierluigi Perfetto et al. provide initial insights into spittlebug-mediated spread of #Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa sequence type 1 in southern Italian table grape vineyards: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-25-0262-SC

“Molecular and Cytogenetic Characterization of Novel Wheat–Rye T2AS.2RL Translocation Lines with Resistance to Powdery Mildew and Stripe Rust,” by Zhi Li et al. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-10-25-0323-R

Cathaya argyrophylla is a rare and endangered plant endemic to China. Hong-Jin Wei et al. found that #Bacillus proteolyticus enhances the biocontrol of needle cast in C. argyrophylla by modulating physiological pathways and the phyllosphere microbiome: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-11-24-0346-R

Willem E. W. Schravesande et al. provide a more holistic view on lettuce big-vein disease symptom development, evaluating the joint role of the two causal RNA viruses, Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus and lettuce big-vein associated virus: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-25-0155-R

Novel resistance genes to stripe rust in wheat are urgently needed. Xiangyang Xu et al. identified a stripe rust resistance gene in wheat cultivar Samara and mapped it to the interval 784.71 to 786.36 Mb in the terminal region of chromosome arm 2AL: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-08-25-0274-R

“Considerations for Inferring Remote Sources of Inoculum, Vectors, or Pests in Agroecosystems Using Spatial Data When Dispersal Kernels Are Uncertain and Landscapes Are Heterogeneous,” by Timothy K. Martin and Thomas M. Chappell: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-08-25-0280-R

Findings from Jirachaya Yeemin et al. suggest the psyI and psyR genes of #Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 contribute to bacterial virulence on tomato: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0192-R

#Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (XAP) causes bacterial spot in Prunus, and copper sprays have been widely used to manage this disease. Milan Panth et al. report and characterize the first copper-resistant strain of XAP, first isolated in North Carolina: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-10-25-0338-R

Call for Papers: Submit to the forthcoming Phytopathology focus issue, “Seedborne Pathogens: Risks, Research, and Resilience,” by June 15, 2026! Learn more: https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/seedbornepathogens

“Viral Silencing Suppressor Activity in Plants Modifies Aphid Antiviral Immunity and Fecundity,” by Stephanie E. Preising et al. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0173-R #aphids

Findings from Thiago Maia et al. support a model in which AtNHR2A and AtNHR2B function as integral components of the plant endomembrane system, modulating the secretion and accumulation of specific apoplastic proteins during immune responses: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-25-0237-R

Facundo Ramón Ispizua Yamati et al. present the first study to integrate mechanistic disease models, meteorological data, uncrewed aerial vehicle imagery, and molecular diagnostics into a single predictive framework for the Cercospora beticola pathosystem: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-03-25-0113-R

Editor’s Pick: Results from Andrew C. Schuerger et al. suggest that simulated microgravity increases phytopathogen growth rates, potentially leading to increased levels of disease in space-based bioregenerative life support systems: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-11-25-0359-R

Unexpected Potential Bacterial Symbiosis Found in Fungus That Causes Angular Leaf Spot: https://www.apsnet.org/members/community/newsroom/releases/Pages/Achromobacter_Serrato-Diaz.aspx Read the original article by Luz M. Serrato-Diaz et al. to learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-24-0302-R

Karla Gabriela Huerta-Acosta et al. shed light on the differential responses of grapevine accessions to the #Xylella fastidiosa strains prtA− and Tem1: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0200-R

“Revisiting the Identification of Xanthomonas arboricola Strains Isolated from Cherry in Montenegro Through Genome Analysis and Pathogenicity Testing,” by Sara Cuesta-Morrondo et al. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0168-SC

K. Avila et al. found that fly density does not limit #Ceratocystis fimbriata transmission to sweetpotato by #Drosophila hydei: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-25-0122-R 🍠

Findings from Yuyang Liu et al. establish TaMYB73 as a positive regulator of high-temperature seedling plant resistance in wheat. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-11-23-0427-R

“Population Structure of Phytophthora × alni on a Local Scale and Its Temporal Development,” by Štěpán Pecka et al. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-03-25-0091-R

Eugenol exhibits a spectrum of antimicrobial activities and fungicide efficacy against crop diseases. Xiansu Wang et al. assessed its inhibitory activity against many phytopathogenic fungi, finding it to be particularly effective against #Botrytis cinerea: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0227-R

Findings from Tania Afroz et al. reveal a major vulnerability in current commercial cotton cultivars and emphasize the urgent need to screen diverse genetic material for novel resistance to #Meloidogyne enterolobii. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-25-0240-R

“Unmasking Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus in Peanuts: From Nucleocapsid Protein Sequence and Localization to Practical Management in Alabama,” by Abdelaal H. A. Shehata et al. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0204-R

Fupeng Hou et al. cloned PfPDF2 from Perilla frutescens and introduced into Brassica napus through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Results showed the transgenic plants were significantly more resistant to Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria brassicae: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-25-0293-R

Results from Bhavya Shukla et al. indicated the difference in virulence between tomato spotted wilt virus isolates from peanut, tobacco, and tomato crops on #Nicotiana tabacum: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-25-0142-R

Diseases of tea plants caused by #Lasiodiplodia theobromae have significantly impacted the quality and yield of tea leaves in China and India. Tianxinyi Pan et al. uncovered a novel disease resistance mechanism: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-03-25-0117-R

Qi Luo et al. demonstrate that osthole disrupts energy metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, substance transport, and metabolism of the hyphal cell wall and cell membrane, potentially targeting the amidase of #Botrytis cinerea: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0203-R

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a globally important pathogen of peanut. Namrata Maharjan et al. performed deep sequencing of TSWV isolates from two peanut cultivars and two induced allotetraploids derived from four wild Arachis grown in Georgia: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-08-25-0271-R

“What a walk down memory lane! Thank you for bringing these landmark papers together into a wonderful resource for teaching!” —Jan E. Leach (Colorado State University) Explore the virtual issue: https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/landmarksphyto

“Relative Contributions of Infected Transplants and Volunteers to the Population Biology of Stemphylium vesicarium in New York Onion Production,” by Natalia Piñeros-Guerrero et al. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0209-R

Deadline approaching: Submit to “Exploring Pantoea: Dual Roles in Plant Health and Disease,” by March 31, 2026! Learn more: https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/pantoeapathogenspotlight

Vinicius C. Garnica, Mohammad Nasir Shalizi, and Peter S. Ojiambo investigated the effects of genotype-by-environment interactions on 4 disease metrics describing #Stagonospora nodorum blotch epidemics of 18 commercial soft red winter wheat cultivars: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-12-24-0398-R

Editor’s Pick: Findings from Xiangxiang Zhang et al. highlight the role of temperature and drought in shaping the geographic distribution of #Fusarium pseudograminearum populations and provide insights into the environmental adaptability of the fungus: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-08-25-0288-R

“A Multi-Scale Perception-Enhanced Lightweight Network with Knowledge Distillation for Rice Leaf Disease Detection,” by Manyi Wang et al. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0161-R

#Caulimoviridae is comprised of plant-infecting pararetroviruses that replicate by reverse transcription and encapsidate a circular double-stranded DNA genome. Sita Paudel et al. report and characterize a new badnavirus infecting Pelargonium × hortorum: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-12-24-0389-R

Findings from Guowei Geng et al. provide an empirical basis for in vivo experiments on regulation of wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) genome replication and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of WYMV-related crop diseases: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0158-SC

Claudine Boyer et al. present novel genomic data for #Xanthomonas citri pv. bilvae, the causal agent of bacterial shot-hole disease in bael trees. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-25-0255-SC

#Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), which causes stripe rust, is one of the most prominent pathogens of wheat worldwide. Hannah Merrill et al. developed KASP markers in association with avirulence genes of Pst: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-02-25-0074-R

#Colletotrichum fructicola is a significant phytopathogen in both pre- and postharvest stages of fruit development and storage. Xingyun Li et al. characterized a fungal strain that strongly inhibits C. fructicola. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0157-R

Rice blast, caused by the ascomycete fungus #Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most problematic diseases for rice production. Aron Osakina et al. identified Pi-ta/Pi-39(t)/Ptr as the key contributor to blast resistance in weedy rice: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-02-25-0051-R

Seeds are critical to global food security—but also key pathways for pathogen spread. Submit your research papers that expand knowledge of seedborne and seed-transmitted plant pathogens to the forthcoming Phytopathology focus issue: https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/seedbornepathogens

“Vascular Pathogenicity of Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum in Maize Is Modulated by Tissue-Specific Host Resistance,” by Alexander Mullens et al. Read the article in #Phytopathology to learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0164-R

To characterize the population of #Fusarium in Michigan, Mikaela Breunig et al. collected 569 isolates and determined species composition, TRI genotype, in vitro fungicide sensitivity, and fungicide field efficacy: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0214-R

Syndrome “Basses Richesses” (SBR) is a rapidly emerging sugar beet disease in central Europe that has a severe economic impact on the sugar beet industry. Justus Detring et al. provide foundational work for digitally phenotyping SBR: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-25-0239-R

Michigan is one of the largest producers of highbush blueberries in the U.S. Botrytis blossom blight is a major diseases in this region. J. A. Abbey et al. describe a new species, #Botrytis michiganensis, as an additional pathogen causing blossom blight: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0223-R

M. Shamim Hasan et al. investigated the role of glutathione in #Arabidopsis thaliana during #Meloidogyne incognita infection using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and pharmacological approaches: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-03-25-0090-R

Md. Saiful Islam et al. biochemically demonstrate that blast resistance in S615 is, in part, correlated with its strong antioxidant defense responses to #Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum infection, providing a physiological basis for this resistance mechanism: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0206-R

Arkaprabha China et al. discuss recent advances in understanding how #Xanthomonas integrates environmental and host-derived signals to regulate its pathogenicity. Read the open access review in #Phytopathology: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-25-0183-RVW

#Phytopathology Editor’s Pick: “How Do Growers Respond to Host Resistance? A Conditional Gaussian Bayesian Network for Causal Inference of Fungicide Cost Savings,” by Jae Young Hwang et al. Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-25-0199-R